Nice to see you again MsTree I got to see the repeat of his match against Roddick and it was truly a beat down. I still can't figure out how I missed the timing on the match live But it was still pleasant to watch

Berdych, who clinched his berth at prestigious season finale in London on Thursday, will challenge third seed Roger Federer in the semi-finals.

"It was really one of the best of three set matches I [have] played, even with the quality," said Berdych. "All three sets [were] very close. I'm the happier one today. But I think it was just a great game."

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Berdych saved seven set points at 3-5 to win a 14-minute game, before Murray converted his ninth set point opportunity with a crosscourt forehand, which Berdych couldn't scramble back, to wrap up the first set in 63 minutes. Murray saved all five break points he faced.

Berdych kept the pressure on Murray in the second set and almost took a 4-0 lead. The Czech served for the set at 5-3, but Murray broke to 30 and went onto level for 5-5. In the tie-break, Berdych converted his first set point opportunity at 6-5 for one-set apiece.

The third set went with serve to 4-4, when Berdych broke Murray to 15. Murray could have levelled at 5-5, but could not convert three break point opportunities. Berdych earned his 51st match win of the season on his second match point chance after three hours and 13 minutes of play.

The 26-year-old Berdych has a 51-20 match record on the season, which includes a 4-6 mark against Top 10 opponents. Last month he won the Beijing Open title (d. Cilic).

Murray, 24, is bidding to finish the year at No. 3 in the South African Airways 2011 ATP Rankings for the first time. He drops to 56-12 season record. He has won five titles, including two ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophies at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati (d. Djokovic) and the Shanghai Rolex Masters (d. Ferrer).

"I got good practice going into London, which I didn't have coming in here," said Murray. "I'll need to work on a few things. I was moving much better than I did in my first match by the end of this one.

"I was really unhappy with the way I hit my backhand today, which is normally my most solid shot, so that's something I'll look to work on. I didn't feel all that comfortable on my serve this week, even though I didn't get broken the first couple of matches."

Ugh- I'm sad he lost to Berdych, but he played well and everyone loses sometimes. I'm just disappointed he let that thing with ball change when Berdych was down in his service game early in the 3rd set(fucked up, I agree, Andy) derail him. Andy has to shake these things off better. I think he was more upset with inexplicably low energy performance in the 2nd set tiebreak, to be honest. He had all the momentum going in, an Berdych gifted him the first mini break.

The world No. 3 saw his 17-match unbeaten streak come to an end as he lost 4-6 7-6 6-4 in the quarter-finals against Berdych - and the Scot was unable to contain his frustration on the court.

"I said 'b******s' and that got me a warning," Murray said. "I have been to watch a lot of football matches and you say a lot worse than that and you don't get a yellow card."

Although Murray has arguably played his best tennis of the year over the past couple of months, he still feels areas of his game need work ahead of the ATP World Tour Finals in London later this month.

"I got good practice going into London but I'll need to work on a few things," Murray said. "I was really unhappy with the way I hit my backhand today, which is normally my most solid shot, so that is something I'll look to work on.

"And I didn't feel all that comfortable on my serve this week, even though I didn't get broken the first couple of matches. I'll work on that, too."